Just 45 minutes' drive from Namibia’s capital takes you to this latest offering from the cool Habitas hotel group. It's a doddle to get to yet feels as remote as it is beautiful. 12 luxurious tents are set upon a hillock so you look down across an endless vista of savannah and bush. Inside, you feel spoilt and as safe as houses - a welcome sanctuary from the daytime heat. Outside, there’s every chance of experiencing some of the Big Five wildlife (all except buffalo) and much more besides. What we loved was their desire to go beyond the usual safari format, offering a more holistic experience combining adventure, culture and wellness. So apart from excellent game drives, we enjoyed morning yoga, spa treatments, and fascinating medicinal plant walks that unlocked traditional secrets, as well as gin tasting and a surprise bush dinner and drumming class.
At the end of the day, you can simply kick off your boots and sink into a massive beanbag for a movie night beneath the heavens. You’re mesmerised by the vista by day and the stars by night. In the afternoon our minds would go blank as we cooled off by the pool – lying there agog at the sight of distant dust devils spinning across the vast plains below. Some guests spend weeks here simply to unwind, while others stay at the beginning or end of a trip around Namibia. For us, it was a fantastic, easy add-on to a holiday in Cape Town.
Highs
- Gazing out at the stunning far-reaching views from the spacious tented rooms, refreshing infinity pool and chilled lounge areas
- An incredible sense of remoteness without the need for hours of driving or expensive light aircraft flights
- Sunrise yoga on the deck overlooking the 50,000-hectare reserve – spotting distant giraffes while standing in tree pose was a first for us!
- Delicious, unfussy food and well-judged menus served by friendly, welcoming staff
- The alternative holistic and cultural experiences set it apart from other safari lodges; there's afternoon meditation, African drumming classes, painting at sunset, and bushman tales around the fire
Lows
- You might not see as much wildlife here as you would in more famous African reserves, but you won't have the crowds of those places
- There's a wilderness drive included in the rate, but you'll need to pay extra if you want to go into the elephant and lion reserve
- In winter it can get windy and chilly at night, but each season has its advantages
- They're still trying to strike the right note on pool-side tunes - piped music may not always be to everyone's taste, but they will change whenever prompted
Best time to go
June to July are the driest months with the biggest drop in temperature at night, while Jan to March has the highest rainfall - but it never rains for long, and average daily temperatures always range from 20-35C. You'll be very unlucky to miss a day because of rain. We visited in October when days were hot and nights cool.
Our top tips
Stay for as long as possible and lose yourself in this mesmerising place. If you get the chance, go for one of the medicinal bushman walks which we found fascinating.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests